Banjo attachment



Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,750

A. w. FORCHIELLI BANJO ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 15. 1923 Ji/ .Z. Anal- 0 WForchielli INVENTOR 6' 49 ywi WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ATTILIO WM; FORCHIELLI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

- BANJO ATTACHMENT.

Application filed September 15, 1923. Serial No. 662,902.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly toan amplifier for attachment to banjos.

The approved type of banjo amplifiers now in use are designed in suchmanner that the amplifier must be removed to permit ad- 'ustment of thetension hoop rods of the anjo head which is inconvenient, tedious andtime absorbing especially where different adjustments of the head aredesired durin the rendering of an orchestral program. t is an object ofthe present invention to i provide an amplifier construction which willpermit adjustment of the tension hoop rods without requiring detachmentin any manner with the operation of efficiency of the amplifier.

Another object is to provide a device so constructed and so related tothe banjo that the tension rods employed for tightening or tensioningthe head of the banjo ma also be employed for securing the ampli er inoperative position.

Further objects will appear from the detail descri tion.

In the rawings:

Figure 1is a side elevation of the banjo with the amplifier in sectionattached.

Figure 2-is a top plan view of the amplifier per se partly in section.

The device is'intended to be used in connection with a banjo of standardconstruction which includes an annular rim (1 over which is stretched ahead 1;, the peripheral portion of this head bein wrapped about a fleshrim, not shown, whic fits snugly about rim a. A straining or tensioninghoop d fits about rim a and above the flesh-ring so that by forcing thishoop downwardly about the mm, by means of straining or tensioning rods 0provided at their upper elements with hooks e which engage over hoop dthe head b can be tensioned or stretched to the desired extent. Thebanjo constructed in this manner isof standard construction and forms nopart of my invention except in so far as it co-operates with means to bedescrlbed to accomplish the desired result.

The attachment, which may be termed a deflector or amplifier in that itacts to deflect the sound u wardly from beneath the banjo head, includesa disc 1 which is preferably of concavo-convex cross section and isprovided with an upwardly extending peripheral flange or wall 2. Aplurality of equally spaced bosses or lugs 3 project inwardly from wall2 and each boss is formed adjacent to its lower end with an inwardlyprojecting shoulder 4, these shoulders provide seats for reception ofthe lower portion of rim (1 of the banjo. Each of the lugs 3 is providedwith a bore 5 and with a recess 6 concentric with the bore but ofgreater diameter, this recess extending from the lower face of disc 1.In applying the device or attachment the shanks of rods 6 are insertedthrough bores 5 of lugs 3 and suitable nuts f such as are common]employed on banjos are threaded on to t e lower ends of these shanks,these nuts being positioned within recesses 6. For this purpose, a keyof a known type is employed, this key being adapted to fit into recesses6 and about the nut f. This provides ver simple and efficient means forsecuring t e device in place while permitting ready adjustment ortensioning of the head of the banjo without any necessity for removingthe attachment or other parts.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be noted that, when the attachment is in place thetension rods can be adjusted as quickly and easily as if there were noattachment on the banjo, which is of great practical importance. As anadditional feature, it will be noted that, when the attachment is inplace, the nuts and the lower portions or ends of the s anks of tensionrods e are positioned within recesses 6 so that there are no projectionssuch as would tend to catch in the players clothing. This provides adevice of extremely simple construction and high efficiency which may bequickly and easily applied to banjos of standard construction withoutnecessitating any change whatever in the construction of the banjoitself.

What I claim is The combination with a banjo including a rim, of anamplifier formed of a single piece of material and having aconcavo-convex circular bottom with the concave side facing the ban'o,an upstanding circular rim formed a out said bottom and having aplurality of circumferentially spaced lugs formed thereon and extendinginwardly, said lugs being spaced to provi e sound escaping spaces,shoulders formed on the inner sides of said lugs, the rim of said banjoresting upon said shoulders and against the adjaeent faces of the lugs,whereby sound space will be provided beneath the banjo and escape of thesound will be permitted through the spaces formed by the lugs said lugsbe-' ing provided with clamping boltreceiving openings, and withcountersinks extending upwardly from the bottom of the amplifier forreceiving the clamping nuts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ATTILIO WM. FORCHIELLI.

